The Arizona Wildcats added a pair of four-star linebackers to its recruiting class Wednesday night, receiving commitments from teammates Jamardre Cobb and Marquis Ware.
Each are rated among the nation’s Top 250 recruits by 247Sports, Scout.com and Rivals.com
The future of the linebacker position, which Rich Rodriguez said was as thin last season as he had ever had in his coaching career, looks to be in much better shape moving forward. The position was boosted by, among others, true freshmen Scooby Wright (feature), Derrick Turituri and DeAndre Miller for this season, and the 2014 class also includes touted junior college transfer Antonio Smothers.
Ware is rated the 140th-best player in the nation by Rivals.com, No. 176 by 247Sports and No. 247 by Scout.com. (Scroll down to see his highlights.)
Cobb’s national ratings: 179 (Rivals.com), 181 (Scout.com) and 190 (247Sports).
They follow Los Angeles Salesian High School teammate Rodney Carr, a defensive back, in committing to the Wildcats for the 2014 class. Ware and Cobb are also good friends with Naijiel Hale, a four-star cornerback from St. John Bosco High, Bellflower, Calif., who has committed to the Cats.
They each held offers from numerous major programs across the country: Florida State, Miami, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin to name several. Cobb (6-2, 225) could project at any of the three linebacker spots, while Ware (6-2, 210) figures to be in a playmaking role on the outside. Ware “oozes upside,” wrote Scout.com.
Arizona has 24 committed players in the class, which includes seven players who have earned a four-star rating by at least one of the major recruiting services. And that doesn’t include the additions of a trio of major college transfers from the Class of 2012 — receiver Davonte’ Neal (who might still be eligible for this season), and receiver Cayleb Jones and quarterback Connor Brewer (both eligible in 2014).
Check below for the entire class with rankings:
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ON TWITTER
Arizona defensive tackle commit Jeff Worthy:
happy to see more guys joining the class of 2014 for arizona.. no excuse why we cant win big #UofA #Wildcats #Smellinthoserosesalready
— Jeffrey Worthy (@WorthyJ_55) August 22, 2013
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Arizona quarterback commit Brandon Dawkins:
#Arizona is making major moves! #BearDown
— Brandon Dawkins (@TheRealBDawks) August 22, 2013
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Arizona cornerback commit Naijiel Hale:
Got my linebackers in college, haha I'm set. WE set
— Naijiel Hale #7 (@YoungNateDogg) August 22, 2013
| Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | School | 247 | Rivals | Scout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Brewer | S | 6-0 | 175 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jamie Byrd | S | 5-11 | 190 | Iowa Western CC, Council Bluffs, Iowa | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Rodney Carr | DB | 6-0 | 185 | Salesian High, Los Angeles | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Darrell Cloy | TE | 6-3 | 220 | La Habra (Calif.) High | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jamardre Cobb | LB | 6-2 | 225 | Salesian High, Los Angeles | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jerod Cody | DE | 6-3 | 265 | Glendale (Ariz.) Community College | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Brandon Dawkins | QB | 6-3 | 205 | Oaks Christian, Thousand Oaks, Calif. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Cameron Denson | WR | 6-1 | 170 | Salpointe Catholic, Tucson | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Tony Ellison | WR | 5-11 | 170 | Granite Bay (Calif.) High | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Patrick Glover | CB | 6-1 | 181 | Scottsdale C.C. | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Jonathan Haden | RB | 5-8 | 189 | Friendship Collegiate Academy, Washington D.C. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Naijiel Hale | CB | 5-11 | 170 | St. John Bosco High, Bellflower, Calif. | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| J.R. Hunt | S | 6-3 | 190 | Chandler High | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Kaige Lawrence | OL | 6-4 | 290 | Chaffey C.C., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Kwesi Mashack | CB | 5-10 | 190 | Murrieta High, Vista, Calif. | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Jordan Morgan | WR | 6-2 | 200 | Southridge High, Beaverton, Ore. | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Josh Pollack | P/K | 5-11 | 165 | Highland Park (Ill.) High | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Antonio Smothers | LB | 6-2 | 230 | Scottsdale C.C. | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Marquis Ware | LB | 6-2 | 210 | Salesian High, Los Angeles | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Jace Whittaker | DB | 5-9 | 150 | Oceanside (Calif.) High | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Sharif Williams | DT | 6-2 | 300 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Nick Wilson | RB | 6-0 | 191 | Central East, Fresno, Calif. | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Trevor Wood | TE | 6-5 | 235 | Chaparral High, Scottsdale | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Jeff Worthy | DT | 6-3 | 285 | Santa Ana (Calif.) College | 3 | 3 | 2 |